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Arlene Blake, a dynamic entrepreneur and sales leader, is renowned for crafting strategies that enhance sales and engage audiences. Passionate about teamwork, she specializes in fostering professionals to surpass goals. Arlene founded Women on the Rise International, Inc., promoting educational empowerment for women. Over six years, she's transformed it into a career advancement hub. An accomplished speaker, she’s led workshops on communication, resilience, and career building. Arlene earned accolades including Orlando Business Journal's 'Woman Who Means Business' and 'Most Influential People in Orlando'. She's a Leadership Orlando alumna and was hailed 2022's 'Woman of the Year' by Orange Appeal Magazine. Arlene envisions globally empowering women to shatter barriers.
Founder & Executive Director
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Michele is a Senior HR Consultant for Authentic Culture & Engagement Solutions Inc. (ACE). She has worked in the Human Capital field in various capacities for over 25 years. She loves working with businesses, employees, and non-profit organizations at all levels to support them in developing an Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
She is recognized as a forward thinker and a proactive problem solver. Her core strengths include Executive Coaching, Conflict Resolution and Employee Relations, HR Policy Design and Compliance, Performance Development and Improvement strategies for individuals and teams, and Organizational Development. Most recently, Michele played an integral role in the development and training of Non-Profit Boards leaders and potential black leaders as part of the regionally acclaimed Orlando Economic Partnerships Black Boardroom Leadership Institute (BBLI).
Michele received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Maryland European Division, majoring in Business Management with a minor in Psychology.
Treasurer
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Karen is the founder and career coach of Karen Rush Coaching, where she uses her 15+ years of professional and people management experience to help mid-career women take on new opportunities and break through obstacles to achieve the highest levels of leadership in their organizations.
Karen has spent over 10 years at Electronic Arts in program, project, and people management. During that time she has shipped 11 titles, co-founded the Orlando studio's Women's Employee Resource Group, completed EA's executive leadership program, and has regularly participated as a mentor, advocate, and sponsor in programs targeted at developing underrepresented talent.
A New Jersey native, Karen now lives in Central Florida with her amazing husband and two spunky kids. She's an avid reader and lover of all things Disney!
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Michele Badie is a Professional Development Strategist and a practicing PMP-certified Program Manager who has worked in financial and legal services and retail industries. She champions helping professionals to keep their skills recharged, competitive, and hire-ready. Michele advocates for others to evolve to their career best by assessing and developing skills that inspire creativity, innovation, and implementable solutions through her professional development platform, Skills Recharged®, and encourages professionals like yourself to Keep Your Stride® by nourishing your mental health and supporting your wellness through juicing. These resources extend Michele's work with her podcast, Career Tipper®, which bloomed from her tenure in Career Services in for-profit higher education.
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Christina Hartfield is a Banker in the Orlando office of J.P. Morgan Private Bank and advises a diverse base of clients across Central Florida, including athletes, entertainers, business owners and entrepreneurial women. She serves as a powerful gateway to deliver the extensive resources of J.P. Morgan that help highly successful families pursue their distinctive wealth management goals.
When Christina works with women, she finds that many of them are enjoying financial independence for the first time. She makes it a personal priority to empower them along their wealth journey, delivering financial literacy that lends a layer of confidence and comfort.
With a career that began in 2004, Christina has a significant background in the ultra-high-net-worth space and is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional. She is a member of the CFL chapter of 100 Women Strong and a former board member of Central Florida’s African American Chamber of Commerce. She has several family members in the U.S. military, and has been involved with the Central Florida Veterans Council and the VA Hospital of Lake Nona.
Outside of private wealth, Christina relishes time with her husband and five children and is an avid listener of audiobooks.
Board Member
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Deloria Nelson Streete, President of Authentic Culture and Engagement Solutions, Inc. (ACE), leads a dynamic coaching and consulting firm. ACE specializes in assisting executives and organizations in fostering authentic engagement and inclusive cultures. Previously, Deloria was the Managing Director of Diversity & Inclusion at Charles Schwab, focusing on International Inclusion. Since founding ACE in 2018, she's been acclaimed as a top coach in Orlando for 2022 and 2023, earned a 2023 Innovation award with the Black Boardroom Leadership Institute, and was honored by the Orlando Business Journal as a “Woman Who Means Business.”
A seasoned HR professional with over 25 years in the field, Deloria has contributed to Fortune 500 companies, including Walt Disney World. Her expertise encompasses DEI Assessments, Leadership Training, Coaching, and Employee Relations. She holds a B.A. in Mass Communications and an MPA in Human Resources from Clark Atlanta University. Known for her positive energy, courage, and authenticity, Deloria's workshops and keynotes are transformative, underpinned by her personal mission to help individuals leverage their unique gifts.
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Krysta has spent the last 7 years curating impactful strategy, programs and stories to inspire change and deliver meaningful experiences for marginalized identity groups. She is passionate about weaving Diversity, Equity & Inclusion into the everyday and helping people, spaces and systems transform for good.
Krysta is the Head of Storytelling for Meaningful and co-host on the We Are Meaningful podcast, creating captivating narratives that elevate the shared experiences of Black & Brown Women and helping them navigate and thrive in corporate spaces. She currently works with Electronic Arts (EA) as a DEI Strategist & Consultant on the Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion team -- supporting their enterprise-wide strategy to attract, retain & develop marginalized talent.
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When you’re as passionate and knowledgeable as Valerie Carmel Dorsainvil, guiding high-achieving Black women over stress and trauma to their highest selves is all in a day’s work. As a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) and founder and CEO of Valerie Carmel Therapy, LLC, Valerie has provided countless African-
American and Caribbean-American professional women with the tools they need to reclaim control of their own narratives. Her uncanny ability to deeply see, hear and guide her clients empowers them to thrive mentally and emotionally well beyond their therapy sessions.
No stranger to the heavy burdens Black women shoulder every day, Valerie draws on nearly two decades of counseling expertise and her own struggles with anxiety to show clients how to prioritize their mental well-being and successfully navigate life’s toughest challenges. With certifications in trauma and anxiety work, Valerie has developed a unique therapeutic approach that integrates self-awareness, self-care and self-led growth to achieve breakthrough results for her clients. Her work has been featured in VoyageMIA, ThriveGlobal, Authority Magazine and ShoutOut Miami.
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Chantel Carter is a Higher Education professional and community builder with over 21 years of Student Affairs experience. Chantel focuses on amplifying voices and increasing visibility and representation for diverse communities. She believes that effective relationship building is essential for collaborations and partnerships. Chantel champions the importance of well-being and self-care. She has experience in event planning/programming, marketing, diversity/equity/inclusion education, training as well as staff development. She strives to create environments where people are empowered, encouraged and equipped to be and perform at their best. Chantel is the proud wife of a wonderful husband and mother to two amazing children.
Board Member
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Mia Poinsette is a distinguished philanthropist and community leader, acclaimed for her innovative contributions. As the founder and Executive Director of the Poinsette Foundation, she pioneers initiatives supporting underrepresented women and children of color. Since its inception in April 2022, the foundation has collaborated with over 80 partners across Orange and Osceola counties, significantly impacting Central Florida families.
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Her dedication extends to various leadership roles, including board positions with Heart of Florida United Way’s Women United, Women’s Executive Council, and Women on the Rise. Mia's notable achievements include being the first Black woman on the University Club of Orlando's Executive Board and serving on the Mennello Museum’s Board of Trustees, appointed by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer.
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Mia's early involvement as a third-generation Girl Scout laid the foundation for her leadership and philanthropy. Her educational background includes a philosophy degree from Johns Hopkins University, ongoing graduate studies in government and public policy at Harvard, and participation in prestigious leadership programs.
Recognized for her community impact, Mia has received several awards, including Heart of Florida United Way’s Change Maker and the Women’s Executive Council’s Central Florida Influencer award in 2023. Alongside her professional pursuits, Mia enjoys playing the violin, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Board Member
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